My experience pertains to the graphic design course at Northumbria University, it was here that I was taught how to tackle client briefs using a research-based approach.
For me, the technical sessions that had a more hands-on approach were the most appealing aspects – these were a mix of sessions including how to use programmes as part of Adobe Suite and more physical design like using hot presses and screen-printing machines. Not only were these sessions taught by people with years of professional experience in industry, but they were thorough and contributed immensely to my execution of design projects throughout the three years.
I would say the course aligned well with what was advertised, although they scrapped a major part of the course during first year that decided how your second year would play out which was disappointing as this was a huge draw for myself and many others to the course.
Overall, I would recommend the course to anyone interested in learning graphic design; the modules they cover are helpful in gaining perspective on how to approach a client brief as a graphic designer.